Opportunity Crop Indicators: Assessing the Climate Adaptation Potential of Opportunity Crops in Africa

Global dependence on a few well-researched staple crops exacerbates systemic vulnerabilities to climate change and does not encourage bio- or dietary diversity. The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils aims to strengthen African food systems by promoting nutritious and climate-resilient “opportunity crops”, also known as "orphan crops", alongside improved land management practices. Here, the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization, Havos.AI, and the African Orphan Crops Consortium, developed a set of 24 indicators for interdisciplinary evaluations of promising opportunity crops in Africa. We employ qualitative and quantitative evidence from climate-crop modeling, agronomy, plant breeding, nutrient composition and social sciences to assess and compare the development potential of 19 opportunity crops and five staple crops. Teff, finger millet, grass pea, pigeon pea, sesame seed, sweet potato, taro, African eggplant and okra are highlighted for their nutrient content and projected yields under climate change.